Guatemala’s All Saints Day: 3,000-Year-Old Kite Tradition vs Halloween
As autumn winds sweep across Guatemala’s highlands, small kites begin to appear in the sky. Children run through streets with homemade creations. Meanwhile, vendors sell colorful tissue-paper kites on every corner. Families gather in open fields to practice their flying techniques. This is kite season in Guatemala. It serves as a prelude to one of […]
Building Cultural Bridges: How to Travel Respectfully in Central America
In Central America, a region rich with indigenous traditions, complex colonial histories, and vibrant contemporary cultures, the way we engage as travelers can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or create meaningful connections that benefit everyone involved. Building authentic cultural bridges is about approaching every interaction with respect, preparing yourself to engage thoughtfully, and understanding that true cultural […]
5 Ways Your Guatemala Service Trip Creates Lasting Change
When you plant a tree in the Lake Atitlán basin, you’re not just adding one sapling to Guatemala’s reforestation efforts. Your action would ripple through the community for years to come—supporting local employment, protecting watersheds, strengthening food security, and inspiring other people to become environmental stewards. This is the hidden power of well-designed service trips […]
Impact Travel vs. Volunteer Tourism: Understanding the Difference That Changes Everything
You’ve seen the Instagram posts: smiling volunteers painting school walls, building houses, or teaching children in remote villages. Despite hashtags that say “changing lives” and “making a difference,” beneath the surface of these well-intentioned images lies a complex question that every conscious traveler must ask: Am I creating positive impact or participating in something that […]
Why Parents Choose Impact Travel in Latin America for Their Teens
It’s a misty morning on the shores of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, and a group of American high school students are planting rows of native saplings in a hillside nursery. Their sneakers are caked in mud, their hair damp from the mist, but they’re laughing with local farmers, practicing Spanish phrases, and learning how each […]
Gen Z Travel Trends: Sustainable Tourism in Latin America
For decades, tourism in Latin America conjured up images of turquoise beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Today, a new wave of Gen Z travelers is reshaping the region’s travel landscape. More than merely chasing Instagrammable moments, they seek meaningful, purpose-driven journeys that combine adventure, cultural immersion, and sustainability. According to Expedia’s 2024 Gen Z Travel Trends […]
Why Service Learning Abroad Is the New College Prep
Service learning abroad for high school students In 2025, more students are discovering the benefits of service learning abroad for high school students. Instead of focusing solely on SAT scores, families and colleges are valuing experiences that teach leadership, empathy, and global perspective. On a misty morning in Guatemala, students kneel in volcanic soil planting […]
The Guatemala Impact Adventure That Raised $9,000 for Reforestation
In June 2025, high school students embarked on a Guatemala service trip and participated in a reforestation project. They traded a week of summer for shovels, seedlings, and the chance to make a lasting environmental impact in Guatemala’s Western Highlands. By raising nearly $9,000 before departure, they supported Wellkind Guatemala ONG in planting 1,000–2,000 new […]
How Service Travel Builds Real Leadership Skills in Students
How Service Travel Shapes Future Leaders How Service Travel Builds Real Leadership Skills in Students Service travel is more than just an adventure. For students, it is an opportunity to grow as leaders, engage with diverse cultures, and discover the power of making a difference. At Somos Travel, we specialize in service learning travel programs […]
Combining Rotary Youth Exchange with Service Travel
Travel with Purpose, Return with Perspective Rotaract was founded on two pillars: leadership and service. Few experiences bring those pillars to life more powerfully than a service learning trip. These trips go beyond sightseeing and surface-level volunteering. They immerse young leaders in real-world challenges, guided by local partners, and framed through Rotary values. At Somos, […]